Tigerpaw Studios
Tigerpaw Studio, later known as TPaw, was a short-lived website that evolved into an organization overseeing numerous social networks, groups, and websites under a single umbrella.
Background
[edit | edit source]Tigerpaw Studios
[edit | edit source]Tigerpaw Studio served as a platform for Tony Bark's creations beyond digital art, encompassing content related to Second Life. Developed from scratch using PHP, the site featured Bark's then-new friend, Canon Rhode, prominently displayed on the homepage. It was intended as a successor to his previous website, Furry Blue DJ, which showcased his earlier artwork.
TPaw
[edit | edit source]Financial limitations and resource constraints, coupled with the rise of mobile apps and social media platforms, led Bark to redirect his focus toward the latter using open-source software. Tigerpaw Studios was rebranded as TPaw. While it never officially incorporated during its existence, it later functioned as such as individuals sought support from Bark.
The emphasis shifted towards decentralized forms of communication, including supporting what would later evolve into the Fediverse. Notable examples include TPaw Social, powered by GNU Social. Bark collaborated with other websites like GamerFurs, integrating them into the newly established gaming division under TPaw's umbrella.
During this period, Caseyverse's lore resided under TPaw's umbrella and was hosted on the Fandom Wiki platform. Initially known as the TPaw Universe, it mirrored the organizational structures of Marvel and DC Comics. The organization itself became a passive element within the lore, resembling an Acme-style company that later manufactured the "Multi" brand of smart devices.
Despite Bark's presence on Facebook from a year after its launch, he abandoned the network when they implemented their real name policy and raised concerns about user privacy. Consequently, TPaw's social media presence was primarily confined to Google Plus due to its Circles feature. Bark oversaw a variety of groups catering to diverse interests, while Twitter served as a primary communication channel.
Dissolution
[edit | edit source]In 2016, following an unexpected turn of events involving an open-source project he had collaborated on, where Bark faced accusations for seemingly innocuous actions, and the emergence of Twitter as a highly politicized platform, Bark decided to dissolve, merge, and rebrand TPaw's groups and services to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
During the process of dismantling TPaw, Bark became acutely aware of its vast scope. Despite his initial noble intentions, he couldn't help but recognize parallels to a corporate conglomerate. Consequently, Bark's fictional portrayal of the organization evolved from a passive company into an ominous, omnipresent villain intent on disrupting Nethington's balanced economy.